Big news in Colorado, as Joe Sakic has been put in charge of “all hockey-related decisions” for the Avalanche, the same team he won two Stanley Cups with during a Hall of Fame career.

Sakic’s new title is Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations.

Meanwhile, Greg Sherman will remain general manager (under Sakic) and Josh Kroenke — the son of Avs owner Stan Kroenke — will replace Pierre Lacroix as team president.

Lacroix will stay on as an advisor.

“Joe will be in charge of all hockey-related decisions moving forward,” said Kroenke in a release. “With his credentials, presence and knowledge of the game, Joe will be a key ingredient in making sure that together we reach our future goals.”

Added Kroenke: “Greg Sherman will work with Joe in managing the day-to-day business operations of the team as general manager. I know he is just as optimistic as Joe and I are about the future of our team.”

Said Sakic in the same release: “Last week, Josh reached out to me about the possibility of a bigger role. After those discussions, I really believe that Stan and Josh are committed to this franchise and want us to get back to where we used to be and compete for the Stanley Cup. Because of their commitment, it’s definitely the right time for me to take a more active role.”

Among the offseason priorities for Sakic will be the hiring of a new head coach to replace Joe Sacco.

There’s also the upcoming draft, in which the Avs will get to choose first overall.

1. Push Sherman out.
2. Draft Seth Jones.
3. Hire Adam Foote Asst. Coach (Colorado roots and can coach-up Seth Jones).
4. Hire Patrick Roy Head Coach (his extreme competitive nature will fight to change losing culture of past years. Also will help in the development of Varly immensely.)
5. Make reaching out to the fans a priority. Becoming more transparent will help to earn fans trust back in front office.

19to77 - May 10, 2013 at 5:19 PM

If you’re in his shoes, who do you pick as new GM? Assuming he does sack Sherman, which he really needs to do.

I’d inform Sherman that the only reason he is still around is due to the notoriously cheap Avs ownership not wanting to pay out on his remaining contract. He’s essentially my high-pirced assistant.

Tell Roy that his hands will not be tied down in terms of player personnel. He’d have some input on personnel move but final decisions would be mine. However he will be groomed to be a GM should he succeed.

Bottom line is Joe doesn’t want to travel away from his family often which the GM position would demand.
Roy will only jump on board if he can get more control. Super competitive guys want the pressure of accountability so they can share credit in the success.

19to77 - May 10, 2013 at 5:35 PM

Keep Sherman as figurehead, make GM decisions between Sakic and Roy if he says yes. Interesting. Would definitely be an improvement, albeit an unconventional scenario. Anything they can do is an upgrade over Sherman, though, so they’ve nowhere to go but up.

Who is 4thquartermagic and why is everyone thumbing up his posts? Dude is freaking clueless. First of all, this was the last year on Sherman’s contract – clearly it has nothing to do with “buying him out”. Sakic isn’t ready to be a GM and that’s pretty much the only reason Sakic wasn’t named the GM. You can’t just become a GM with 2 years of experience in an advisory role. Sherman has negotiated contracts, made trades, made decisions in the draft (which he hasn’t screwed up yet with his previous top picks) so the fact that this clown thinks he’s going to brain wash Sakic into not picking Jones is a bunch of clueless bullsh*t. Beyond that, look at all the contracts that Sherman has negotiated and tell me he didn’t get a steal on pretty much every single deal. The guy is an accountant who was named GM to “balance the budget” after the previous regime clearly failed at adjusting to a salary cap NHL…he did that. The team has a core group of good young players with money in the bank to support moves should the team make the playoffs, and to resign the core group of players when their contracts are up.

thehighcountrybear - May 10, 2013 at 4:24 PM

valoisjoeybfeld69:

You’ve pretty much nailed it…

I think Roy might answer the siren’s call –not the one in his domestic life– and come anyway were he asked. Taking the longer view, Patrick might see success bringing added responsibility, and keeping Lacroix may well turn it one way or the other. Short of a Quebec City franchise materializing in the next few years, I see no other avenue back for the lord of the rings [ in my ears ]?

Both Roy and Lacroix would ensure a pipeline into the exquisitely rich Quebec hockey factory. Add Claude Lemieux to the mix, you’ve got your public relations team home and cooled out…?

atwatercrushesokoye - May 10, 2013 at 5:07 PM

As a fan of Denver’s other team I can say that hiring a former great to rebuild the team, and choose the players has been a great success so far, as long as Sakic is all in I think he’ll do a great job.

My guess is that Sherman is still there because they don’t want to pay out his contract, so they took away all of his powers and will probably try to convince him to quit on his own.

My last point would be about bringing in Roy as HC and as one commenter suggested Adam Foote as an AC, I’d just warn Avs fans that you don’t want to become the Oilers where in order to have any sort of role with the team you need to have been an all-time great for them. My suggestion (as a neutral outsider) would be for the Avalanche to hire someone like Lindy Ruff, he’s well respected by his former players and around the league, and always seemed to get absolutely everything he could from the players he was given. I think his message got stale in Buffalo and it was time for everyone to move on, but now that he’s had some time off and is reenergized whoever gets him is going to get a great coach.